Suction cleaner



Dec. 15, 1936. H. B. wHll'rE SUCTION CLEANER Filed July 13, 1954 Harry/. W/lle y Fly.;

atented Dec. l5, 'i936 entre @FEC SUCTHON CLEANER poration of @hic Application .llnly i3, 1934, Serial Nm 734,947

l Gleim,

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to a new and novel improved air conduit for a suction cleaner.'

More specifically, the invention comprises a dusting tool conduit including a flexible hose at the end of which is provided a no-vel swivel joint and attachingmeans.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved air conduit for a suction cleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide new and improved connecting means at the end of a dusting tool conduit. Another object is the provision of an improved swivel joint in an air conduit for a suction cleaner. A still further object is the provision of improved latching means to secure sections of air conduits in operative relationship. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claim and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

Figure 1 is a side view of the end of the dusting tool air conduit 'constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross Vsection showing the conduit attached to an adjacent conduit;

Figure 3 is a cross section upon the line 3--33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section showing the swiveled joint;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the locking spring;

Figure 6 is an exploded sectional view of the resilient grip member and wear plate.

The present invention relates to air conduits used withA suction-creating units of suction cleaners. In cleaning drapes, curtains, and other articles positioned above a supporting surface, the suction created by the suction cleaner is made available at the point of work by 4means of an air conduit. This conduit normally comprises an elongated flexible circular hose which is suitably connected to the suction-creating means-and which may itself comprise a plurality of disengageable sections. The conduit illustrated in the drawing comprises such a flexible hosewith connecting means at its end to permit it to be connected to a cooperating conduit section. The specific details of the invention are hereinafter described.

Referring again to the drawing the air conduit constructed in accordance with the present invention is seen to comprise a flexible tubular hose l, only the end of the hose being shown in the drawing. Hose l telescopes a metallic sleeve member 2 and is suitably retained thereon a-s by cementing. Metallic sleeve 2 extends beyond the end of rubber hose l and is formed at a point positioned slightly beyond the end of that tube with an expanded inwardly facing circular channel or groove 3. Immediately adjacent groove 3 is an outwardly facing circular channel, groove or seat Il, of somewhat greater depth and width than groove 3. Beyond outer 4groove l sleeve 2 continues as an uninterrupted smooth cylinder.

Over the end of hose l and around the metallic sleeve 2 is positioned a collar 5 of resilient material such as rubber. On its forward side adjacent groove 3 collar 5 is counterboredas at 6, and seats-a metallic wear plate 'l which is frictionally retained and which may also be cemented into place. With'collar t positioned over the end of hose l and with sleeve 2 tele'- scopically positioned within both of those members, wear plate 'l extends closely adjacent inwardly facing groove or channel 3.

A metallic air conduit or tube 8 with a slight curvature in its central portion telescopica-Hy encloses the outer end of sleeve 2. Member 8 is provided with spaced inwardly facing grooves or channels 9 and l0, 'and when operatively posi-4 tioned uponsleeve 2 the end of member extends closely adjacent wear plate l and rests upon the outer surface of inwardly facing groove 3." When so positioned outwardly facing groove al in sleeve 2 is positioned exactly opposite inwardly facing groove lll in tube 8 and a circular, closed, seat is formed: In this seat isvpositioned a leaf spring ll which is provided throughout its length at spaced points with deviations from its normal circular shape, the deviations being of such extent that they cause the spring to be clamped in its seat. When so positioned spring il contacts both groove ll and groove l0 and longitudinal displacement of sleeve 2 and member 8 is prevented. In groove 9 positioned in member 8 is a seal l2 of -suitable material which renders the swivel joint formed by the two members substantially airtight.

' At its outer end conduit member t is provided with a manually operable latch member adapted to lock adjacent conduit sections to member 3. The latch comprises an elongated flexible leaf spring i3 which is pivotally supported at one end within the tube 8 by a rivet it the outer head of which is countersun'k below the normal surface of the tube. At its opposite end leaf spring t3 is provided with an outwardly projecting'head i5 which extends through an opening I6 in the tube S. A hook or latch proper il is also carried by spring I3 between head I5 and the pivot point of the spring, the tube 3 also being provided with an opening IS adjacent the hook to permit it to extend therethrough. To prevent 'the leakage of air into conduit 3 through openings It and I8 an enclosing housing I9 is provided which is riveted to the interior of member 8 at its front end by rivet I4 and at its rear end by an additional rivet 20. The space within casing I9 is open to atmosphere through openings I6 and I8 but is sealed from the remainder of the interior of tube 8. Housing i9 is so shaped that leaf spring I3 can be pivoted by a force exerted upon head [5 to' move hook Il within the normal contour of the 'body' against the 'normal resilience of the spring. Y

' The latching means described on the end of air conduit 8 is adapted to cooperate with the adjacent end of a second metallic air conduit which telescopes over theend thereof and is indicated in the drawing by the reference character 2 I. This last air conduit 2| is provided with vspaced inwardly facing channels or grooves 22 andv 23.v With the member 2l in place upon the end of conduit 8 channel 22 surrounds the conduit at 'hook i1 of the latch and the normal resilience of that memberholds the hook within the channel and prevents the withdrawal of the conduit 2l vfrom the conduit i8. Channel 23 is provided interiorly with an air seal 24 of a type similar to air seal I2 aforedescribed and performs the function of making the joint between the two conduits substantially airtight.

The construction of the air conduit of the I l present invention is such that relative rotation between the end of the conduit, the tube 3, and the main body thereofy the nose i, is possible. Spring lock il prevents longitudinal separation of the two members while permitting relative rotation. If desired, the frictional 4force exerted by spring Il may be such that unintended relative rotation between the two parts is prevented. The presence of the seal i2 at the swivel joint makes possi le relative movement between the two parts without air leakage to decrease operating deciency. The provision vof the manually operable latching 'means at the end of the inetallic conduit member 8 permits of the attachment of additional sections of conduit. The provision of the locking means is `accomplished with- 1 ried by said collar closely adjacent the end of.

said tube, a circular channel formed with its sides in said sleeve and said tube, and a circular lock member positioned in said channel and preventing longitudinalv separation of said parts without interference with relative rotation therebetween. 't

HARRY a. 

